Striples of Panama

Alright, the end of week 2. So much happens here that when I sit down to write about it my mind goes blank. I mean, since the last time I wrote here I have had seven 16 hour days. What I can say though is that a person can grow here more than anywhere else I know of. I can't imagine that there is another place more structured and disciplined where you work so much. At the same time there are quite a few blocks where we direct our own time. These periods are what really set one missionary apart from another. There is so much to learn about using time and studying effectively.

 

Since I know a bit of Russian already and my companion studied Russian at BYU, sometimes we get pulled out to do more advanced things. We'll also be spending more time with the native Russians who arrived last week. There's one other sister who studied Russian in our district so we'll be teaching the first lesson with her in Russian tomorrow. Normally we wouldn't have to teach in Russian until the 6th week. I have My Purpose and the First Vision memorized in Russian now. Last night I was out to do a little advanced grammar and as I review the verb conjugations I had a very exciting experience. I just realized that Russian verb conjugations are simpler than any other language I speak! I thought that I just looked at some of the beginner stuff and the harder tense would come later, but that was it. Past and future tenses are so easy! There are really only like 5 different tenses. Anyway, I'm sure that's not as exciting for some, but the language is starting to unfold better for me.

 

There's an awesome German Elder in my district named Elder Dannenberg. I love him. He's so funny. We have a good time together. Sometimes his English is funny too. Yesterday it sounded like he said "We are the modern Striples of Panama." instead of Stripling Warriors of Helaman. I had a good laugh about that. Our whole district is awesome really. And we have the best teachers!

 

I wish I had a lot more to say this week, but it's really just been a continuation of the same rigorous schedule. I love it here. The MTC is really what you make it. I plan to enjoy it the whole time I'm here. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

It's amazing to be a part of such a marvelous work. On Sunday we had a devotional in the gym for the first time since it was just refinished. They let the Elders take off their suit jackets since the AC wasn't working right and it was pretty awesome to see hundreds of black jackets change to white shirts. Afterward I walked up along a balcony and stood there for a minute looking down at ~1000 missionaries. That's less than half of the amount here. Every single one of them was called to serve by a true prophet of God and set apart as disciples of Jesus Christ w/ the authority to preach his Gospel. Wow.

 

I just learned a couple days ago why the book is Preach My Gospel and not "teach." The citation is on the cover, but basically the scripture says that we are to preach the gospel and the Spirit does the teaching. I'm so excited to be here. I know that I am in the right place. I feel the Spirit everyday. There's know way I can deny that this work is ordained of God.

 

With love,

Старейшина Махони

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